Sky Elements and Damoda established a world record during a weeklong series of drone shows in Texas, flying a total of 71,207 drones. The total exceeded the previous benchmark of 55,939 flights, set earlier in 2026 by Aerial Illuminations and UVify. Operations were coordinated from a single control center in a rural area.
A highlight came on September 28, 2026, when 10,183 drones formed a giant blue dragon, setting a record for the largest depiction of a mythical creature. The previous record, established in the United Arab Emirates in late 2025, involved 2,247 drones. Ocean scenes, astronauts, and a lion also appeared in the program.
With approximately 10,200 drones involved in each performance and several flights scheduled daily, equipment management presented a substantial challenge. Sky Elements partnered with Damoda America for hardware support, while Damoda's Shenzhen-based engineers supplied specialized charging and launch trays. Rather than requiring manual placement, the drones could be stored and charged in these trays, automatically returning to their individual positions after each flight. The arrangement considerably simplified handling and storage.
A storm on September 27 complicated operations, although performances continued as scheduled through the September 30 closing night. Michael Empric, the Guinness World Records adjudicator overseeing the process, highlighted the difficulties posed by the weather and repeated daily flights involving more than 10,000 drones. He described the completion of five successful shows after lengthy nights as impressive.
Sky Elements had already achieved other drone records before this event. Its earlier accomplishments included a gingerbread village constructed with 4,981 drones and a drone animation lasting 30 minutes, which held the record for the longest duration.
